Improved apparatus for dividing powders



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FREDERICK SCHAEFFER, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 96,038, dated October 19, 1869.

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DIVIDING POWDERS.

The lchedule referred to in than Letten Patent and making part of the same.

To all who-m it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK SGHAEFFER, of Philadelphia,4 Pennsylvania, have'. invented an Improved Apparatus for Dividing Powders; and I do' suitable for packing iu papers, the apparatus, when used for, this purpose, enabling the medicine to be packed without handling, and without any of the usual measuripg or weighing. l

In order to enable others .to make and use my invention, I will now proceed tov describe the mode of constructing and using the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a party of this specification, and in which- Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of the two main portions of my improved apparatus for dividing powders; y

,"Figure, a plan view of the apparatus, showing the Wo portions fitted together;

.Figure 4, a transverse section on the line 1 2, Iig. 3;

Figure 5, au inverted plan v'iewof iig. 2; and

Figures 6 and 7, detached perspective views of parts of the invention.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout thev several views.

A represents the box-like frame of the apparatus, consisting oia bottom piece, a, back piece, b, and opposite side pieces, c c, the latter being furnished ou the outsidewith suitable handles, d, byy means ot' which the apparatus can be readily lifted, when it is to be moved from place to place.

On the inner side of each of the sidepieces c c, and

close to the upper edge of I the same, is a horizontal groove, f, and crossing this groove at points adjacent to the back piece b, are two or more vertical grooves, h. These latter grooves It are arranged to receive the opposite ends of a strip, t', the lower edge of which rests. upon the bottom a, a space, j, being thus enclosed, of greater 01 less .capacity,`according as the grooves which receive the ends of the strip are adjacent to or remote from the back piece b. The horizontal grooves f, of the side pieces, are adapted for the reception of the tongued ends of a slide, b, which is provided with a suitable handle, k, and has secured to its under side a number of wedgeshaped blocks, m, the latter being of equal size, arranged at regular distancesapart, and being in contact with the bottom piece a when the slide is fitted to the grooves f.

-The method of using the apparatus is as follows: If but a small quantity of powder is to be placed in each package, the strip i is itted to those grooves h which are nearest to the back piece b, or if a greater quantity is required, the strip is moved forward, so as to increase the capacity of the space or powder-receptacle j. (See figs. 1 and 4.) v

The powder to be divided is then poured into the receptacle, and is distributed evenly throughout the same, and levelled by means of a toothed rake, similar to that shown in fig. 6, these rakes being of different sizes, according to the position of the stript, and cousequent width of the powder-receptacle. After this the slide B is moved close up to the strip i, as shown in Iig. 4, and the latter 'is then Withdrawn vertically' from its grooves h It, the motion of the slide being next continued toward theback piece b, until it has assumed' the position shown in g. 3.

This latter movement of the slide, after the withdrawal of the strip t, causes the sharp wedge-shaped ends of the blocks m to penetrate the mass of powder contained in the receptacle j, and 'to divide the same into as many equal. portions as there are spaces between the blocks, all that next remains to be done being to turn the entire apparatus upon one end, in su'oh a manner that the powder thus evenly divided may be caused to ow from the funnel-shaped spaces :t (see iig. 5) into the papers into which it is to be packed.

To repeat the operation, the slide is'drawn back, and-the strip i reinserted, the powder being then introduced, divided, andejected inv the same manner, until a suicient quantity has been packed, the operation being both rapid and accurate, and requiring' troduced into one end ofthe po\vderreceptacle.

I claim, as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The box A, openat one side, and having a bottom, back, and side pieces, a, b, and c, the latter being furnished with horizontal and vertical grooves f and h, adapted to receive slides B and fi, all substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

2. The combination of these-id box A with the slide B, when the latter' is furnished with wedge-shaped blocks m, arranged at regular distances apart, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to' Witnesses:

EDWARD WILLIAMS, JNO. B. HARDING. 

